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Hermann Tilke

"There's a million countries that would like to have an F1 race," said the sport's commercial director Bernie Ecclestone to The Independent recently, "but they can't afford it." Las Vegas wouldn't fall into the latter category, but while not exactly a country unto itself, it is apparently at the top of the former list.

A sample lap has been rendered of the track in Austin, Texas that's set to host the U.S. Grand Prix come 2012. Another Hermann Tilke-designed layout, the 3.4-mile circuit has 20 corners and plenty of elevation change; in fact, in some areas it looks more like a Disney ride than a venue for driving upwards of 200 mph. Since we're going to lose some European races to make room for the USGP, we hope it's good. Check it out for yourself after the jump.
[Source: YouTube]

We now know who will be drawing up the Austin, Texas Formula One circuit. According to ESPN F1, the man behind the grand prix track will be none other than Hermann Tilke – the sport's favorite designer. His engineering firm has been behind over 10 tracks since 1998 and is currently working on at least four others, including the new facility here in the good ol' US of A.